Let us heal the world, it’s the only one we have (When will we ever learn?)
All men have innate goodness in them, that’s why we naturally help each other. We saw this when the world came to help the Philippines after Supertyphoon Yolanda destroyed so many regions and claimed the lives of over 10,000 Filipinos.
Living life can come in two different ways. it can be a life filled with goodness in our heart, or it can be a life of an evil soul. For many nations and men, choosing to be good or evil is a daily struggle. A predicament that i luckily never encountered in my advocacy against all forms of illicit trade, as i get inspiration from the Bible’s Romans 12:21 that says “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
I have been fighting smuggling for over 40 years now in my desire to protect consumers from the evil deeds of smugglers. Although I have had milestones in my antismuggling advocacy, I find it even more challenging today as some of those involved in this evil activity are officials who are supposed to stop smuggling.
However, I was jolted out of my struggles fighting against the country’s unabated smuggling problem when I came across the following facebook post of my wife, Evelyn, which read:
“If the Chinese balloon material had not been detected by the advanced US radar system, then there is a possibility of their enemies’ making use of new or unknown materials
as a carrier of destructive elements. Before it is too late, why not try again diplomatic means to have amicable settlement of issues. Why continue man-made problems like war when there are other serious issues that should be confronted, like climate change, Covid-19 and other diseases, changing values, depletion of natural resources, fast population growth, pollution, racial differences, aid concerns for poor countries, etc. throughout the world. The US is a respected superpower and it must not jeopardize its image. LET US HEAL THE WORLD. IT IS THE ONLY ONE WE HAVE.”
Knowing that all things that happen in our lifetime have a reason, the last line of my wife’s facebook post particularly caught my attention. It reminded me of the tragic earthquake in Turkey and Syria that has already claimed more than 33,000 lives— with the United Nations expecting casualties to reach 50,000.
It also reminded me of the recent cyclone that hit the northern part of New Zealand, which left tens of thousands of people homeless; and the severe floods in Pakistan where 15 million people in flood-affected areas are still in need of emergency food assistance.
I know that it takes a lot of arguments, facts and logical conclusions to convince modern people that there is a Divine Design, which gives direction to human life through natural events. Here are the questions in my mind: Are these events Divine manifestations of God for all of humanity to work as one? Are these natural calamities and disasters God’s wake up call for us to set aside our differences—be it racial, political, and social among others—so we can work together and help each other?
All men have innate goodness in them, that’s why we naturally help each other. We saw this when the world came to help the Philippines after Supertyphoon Yolanda destroyed so many regions and claimed the lives of over 10,000 Filipinos.
With all these natural disasters happening here and there, perhaps God is now calling us to humble ourselves and repent. As 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If My people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
My wife could be right. Why continue with man-made problems like power and pride-triggered wars when there are other serious issues that the world should confront together, like climate change, Covid-19 and other diseases, changing values, depletion of natural resources, fast population growth, pollution, racial differences, aid concerns for poor countries, among others.
Now is the time for us to heed the call of God and save the world before it’s too late. “Let us heal the world. It is the only one we have.”
Dr. Jesus Lim Arranza is the chairman of the Federation of Philippine Industries and Fight Illicit Trade; a broad-based, multisectoral movement intended to protect consumers, safeguard government revenues and shield legitimate industries from the ill effects of smuggling.